The deterioration in Britain's relations with Turkey and Germany's thrust to the east put Britain's oil interest in Persia injeopardy. As the prospect of Turkey's involvement in the war grew more certain, the Admiralty appealed to the India Office for troops to defend the Persian Gulf. On September 16 HMS Odin, with British and Indian troops aboard, entered the Shatt al Arab. Two months later they were ordered to commence hostilities against the Turks.

This article is located in the History of the First World War Volume 1 (REF D522 .H58 1969 V.1).